DOVER (Aug. 16, 2013) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Natural Resources Police, Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement agents between Aug. 6-13 made 1,014 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 169 vessel boardings for boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 57 complaints and issued 47 citations. This week, for the first time since an expanded Fish and Wildlife Enforcement presence was deployed as a deterrent, there were no citations issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area (formerly the C&D Canal Wildlife Area) and the associated recreational trail currently under construction.

Incidents of particular note were:

·On Aug. 8, Robert Ball, 53, of Felton, was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a red fox and rehabilitating protected wildlife without a permit. Ball was released on unsecured bond pending trial at a later date.

·On Aug. 8, Roger Vargas, 31, and Adrian Arrieta, 33, both of Gordonville, Pa., were each cited for three counts of possession of undersized blue crabs and no fishing license in Assawoman Wildlife Area near South Bethany Beach. All of the crabs were returned to the water.

·Fish and Wildlife Agents are investigating the theft of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers trailer carrying a 1,000 gallon tank, which was reported stolen from the south side of the C&D Canal near the Reedy Point Bridge on Aug. 6. The tank, which is still missing, contained approximately 400 gallons of diesel fuel and the total value is estimated at nearly $10,000. The trailer has an Ohio license plate. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Fish and Wildlife Enforcement at 302-739-4580.

·Fish and Wildlife Agents are investigating an Aug. 11 boating accident in which a 35-foot speed boat collided with a bulkhead near the DuPont Chamber’s Works in Pennsville, N.J., after leaving the Christina River in Wilmington. The boat operator and a passenger were transported to Christiana Medical Center in Delaware for treatment of non-life threatening injuries; a second passenger was uninjured. The vessel, valued at approximately $200,000, sustained severe damage. Charges are anticipated upon completion of the investigation.

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses:

Wildlife Conservation:Illegal possession of a red fox (1) and rehabilitating protected wildlife without a permit (1), Kent County; Third degree conspiracy (2), hunting during a closed season (2), and illegal method of take/use of a prohibited weapon for hunting deer (2), Sussex County.

Boating Safety: Inattentive operation of a vessel (1), New Castle County; No boating safety certificate (4), and no boat ramp certificate (3), New Castle and Sussex counties; Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (3), no fire extinguisher on board/required safety equipment (1) and no sound-producing device/required safety equipment (1), Sussex County.

Are you AWARE?With the start of hunting season just two weeks away, Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Agents would like to remind hunters to purchase their 2013-2014 Delaware hunting licenses and waterfowl stamps. A resident annual hunting license costs $25 for ages 16 through 64. A resident junior hunting license costs $5 for ages 13 through 15. To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, residents age 16 through 64 are required to purchase a waterfowl (duck) stamp. Residents younger than 13 or those 65 and older are not required to purchase a Delaware hunting license; residents younger than 16 or those 65 and older are not required to purchase a waterfowl stamp. Higher license prices apply to non-resident hunters, and no exemptions are made for non-residents age 65 and older on purchasing a hunting license or waterfowl stamps.Hunting licenses may be purchased from more than 85 authorized license agents located throughout the state, at the DNREC license desk in the Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, or online at Delaware Licenses.

For more information on Delaware hunting licenses and regulations, pick up a copy of the 2013-2014 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide at DNREC’s Dover license desk, your local license agent, or by visiting 2013 Hunting Guide.

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx .